Life Unscripted: 5 questions with Ariana about life with IgAN

Hi. My name is Ariana Barton. And I am diagnosed with IgA nephropathy. One word I would use to describe IgA nephropathy is challenging.

Every day is something new. And you never know what you're gonna get. Living with IgA nephropathy makes

me feel overwhelmed sometimes, and also sometimes empowered. Some days when it's really hard, I fight back by learning more about this illness

so I can do what I can to stay healthy. Kidney disease is life-changing, but it's not life-ending.

And so we should be thankful for every day. I think the key is to form lasting friendships with people

who truly understand what I'm going through. And so I always have someone that I can turn to and ask questions and just commiserate,

because family and friends don't always get it. Go to the patient support groups, educate yourself, ask questions from your nephrologist,

seek a second opinion if you can or you feel like you need to, and don't be afraid to stand up for yourself.